Ring Theory Problem Set 1 – Solutions

Problem 16.1 Let R be a ring with unity 1. Show that (−1)a = −a for all a ∈ R.

SOLUTION: We have 1 + (−1) = 0 by definition. Multiplying that equation on the right

by a, we obtain

1 + (−1) · a = 0 · a = 0
by theorem 16.1, part i. By the distributive law, we obtain the equation

1 · a + (−1) · a = 0

and therefore we have a+(−1)a = 0. We also have a+(−a) = 0. Thus, a+(−1)a = a+(−a).
The ring R under addition is a group. The cancellation law in that group implies that

−a = (−1)a

which is the result we wanted to prove.

Problem 16.7 Let F be a field and let a, b ∈ F . Assume that a 6= 0, Show that there
exists an element x ∈ F satisfying the equation ax + b = 0.

SOLUTION: Since F is a field and a 6= 0, there exists an element a−1 in F such that
aa−1 = 1. Let c = −b. Let x = a−1 c. Then x ∈ F since both a−1 and c are in F . We have

ax + b − = a(a−1 c) + b = (aa−1 )c + b = 1c + b = c + b = 0 .

Hence the element x in F chosen above has the property that ax + b = 0.

Problem 16.11 Find all units, zero-divisors, and nilpotent elements in the rings
Z ⊕ Z, Z3 ⊕ Z3 , and Z4 ⊕ Z6 .

SOLUTION; In general, if R1 and R2 are rings with unity, then so is R1 ⊕ R2 . The

unity element is (1R1 , 1R2 ). An element (a1 , a2 ) in R1 ⊕ R2 is a unit if and only if there
is an element (b1 , b2 ) in R1 ⊕ R2 such that (a1 , a2 )(b1 , b2 ) = (1R1 , 1R2 ). By definition,
(a1 , a2 )(b1 , b2 ) = (a1 b1 , a2 b2 ). Therefore, the element (a1 , a2 ) is a unit if and only if there
exists elements b1 ∈ R1 and b2 ∈ R2 such that a1 b1 = 1R1 and a2 b2 = 1R2 . This means that
(a1 , a2 ) is a unit in R1 ⊕ R2 if and only if a1 is a unit in R1 and a2 is a unit in R2 .
The units in Z are 1 and -1. The units in Z3 are 1 and 2. The units in Z4 are 1 and 3. The
units in Z6 are 1 and 5. Therefore,
The units in Z ⊕ Z are (1, 1), (1, −1), (−1, 1), and (−1, −1).
The units in Z3 ⊕ Z3 are (1, 1), (1, 2), (2, 1), and (2, 2).
The units in Z4 ⊕ Z6 are (1, 1), (1, 5), (3, 1), and (3, 5).

Suppose that (a1 , a2 ) is an element of R1 ⊕ R2 and that n is a positive integer. Then

we clearly have (a1 , a2 )n = (an1 , an2 ). The additive identity in R1 ⊕ R2 is (0R1 , 0R2 ). The
equation (a1 , a2 )n = (0R1 , 0R2 ) is equivalent to the two equations an1 = 0R1 and an2 = 0R2 .
Consequently, if (a1 , a2 ) is a nilpotent element of R1 ⊕ R2 , then it follows that a1 is a
nilpotent element in R1 and a2 is a nilpotent element in R2 . The converse is true too. To
see this, assume that a1 is a nilpotent element in R1 and a2 is a nilpotent element in R2 .
Then, by definition, there exists positive integers e and f such that ae1 = 0R1 and af2 = 0R2 .
Let n = ef = f e. Then n is a positive integer and we have
an1 = aef
1 = (ae1 )f = 0fR1 = 0R1 and an2 = af2 e = (af2 )e = 0eR2 = 0R2
Therefore, (a1 , a2 )n = (0R1 , 0R2 ) and hence (a1 , a2 ) is a nilpotent element of R1 ⊕ R2 . In
summary, we have shown that (a1 , a2 ) is a nilpotent element of R1 ⊕ R2 if and only if a1 is
a nilpotent element in R1 and a2 is a nilpotent element in R2 .
The only nilpotent element of Z is 0. The only nilpotent element of Z3 is 0. The nilpotent
elements of Z4 are 0 and 2. The only nilpotent element of Z6 is 0. It follows that
The only nilpotent element in Z ⊕ Z is (0, 0). The only nilpotent element in Z3 ⊕ Z3 is (0, 0).

The nilpotent elements in Z4 ⊕ Z6 are (0, 0) and (2, 0).

Suppose that (a1 , a2 ) is an element of R1 ⊕ R2 . Then (a1 , a2 ) is a zero-divisor if and

only if there exists an element (b1 , b2 ) in R1 ⊕ R2 such that
(b1 , b2 ) 6= (0R1 , 0R2 ) and (a1 , a2 )(b1 , b2 ) = (0R1 , 0R2 ) .
The second equation just means that a1 b1 = 0R1 and a2 b2 = 0R2 . Also, (b1 , b2 ) 6= (0R1 , 0R2 )
means that b1 6= 0R1 or b2 6= 0R2 . Consequently, it follows that if (a1 , a2 ) is a zero-divisor in
R1 ⊕ R2 , then either a1 is a zero divisor in R1 or a2 is a zero divisor in R2 . For the converse,
suppose that a1 is a zero-divisor in R1 . Then a1 b1 = 0R1 for some nonzero element b1 ∈ R1 .
It follows that
(b1 , 0R2 ) 6= (0R1 , 0R2 ) and (a1 , a2 )(b1 , 0R2 ) = (0R1 , 0R2 ) .
Therefore, (a1 , a2 ) is a zero-divisor in R1 ⊕ R2 . A similar argument shows that if a2 is a
zero-divisor in R2 , then (a1 , a2 ) is a zero-divisor in R1 ⊕ R2 . In summary, we have shown
that (a1 , a2 ) is a zero-divisor in R1 ⊕ R2 if and only if either a1 is a zero divisor in R1 or a2
is a zero divisor in R2 .
The only zero-divisor in Z is 0. The only zero-divisor in Z3 is 0. The zero-divisors in Z4
are 0 and 2. The zero-divisors in Z6 are 0, 2, 3 and 4. The above remark shows that
 
The set of zero-divisors in Z ⊕ Z is { (a, 0)  a ∈ Z } ∪ { (0, b)  b ∈ Z }.
 
The set of zero-divisors in Z3 ⊕ Z3 is { (a, 0)  a ∈ Z3 } ∪ { (0, b)  b ∈ Z3 }.
The set of zero-divisors in Z4 ⊕ Z6 is
 
{ (a, b)  a ∈ Z4 , b = 0, 2, 3, or 4 } ∪ { (a, b)  b ∈ Z6 , a = 0 or 2.} .

Problem 16.13, part (a) Show that the multiplicative identity in a ring with unity R
is unique.

SOLUTION: Suppose that e ∈ R and that ea = a = ae for all a ∈ R. Suppose also that
f ∈ R and that f a = a = af for all a ∈ R. Then we have

f = ef = e

Therefore, e = f . Thus, there can only be one element in R satisfying the requirements for
the multiplicative identity of the ring R.

Problem 16.13, part (b) Suppose that R is a ring with unity and that a ∈ R is a unit
of R. Show that the multiplicative inverse of a is unique.

SOLUTION: Suppose that b, c ∈ R and that ab = ba = 1 and that ac = ca = 1. Then

we have
c = 1c = (ba)c = b(ac) = b1 = b .
Hence we have c = b. The multiplicative inverse of a is indeed unique.

ADDITIONAL PROBLEMS:

A: Prove that if R is a division ring, then the center of R is a field.

SOLUTION: First of all, suppose that R is any ring with identity. Let S be the center of
R. That is,
S = { s ∈ R | sr = rs for all r ∈ R } .
We will show that S is a subring of R.
The fact that S is a subgroup of R under addition can be seen as follows. For this
purpose, suppose that s1 , s2 ∈ S. Then, for all r ∈ R, we have s1 r = rs1 and s2 r = rs2 .
Therefore, using the distributive laws for R, we have

(s1 + s2 )r = s1 r + s2 r = rs1 + rs2 = r(s1 + s2 )

for all r ∈ R. Therefore, s1 + s2 ∈ S. Furthermore, letting 0 denote the additive identity of

R, we have 0 · r = 0 and r · 0 = 0. Hence 0 · r = r · 0. Therefore, 0 ∈ S.
Finally, suppose that s ∈ S. Let t = −s, the additive inverse of s in R. We have s+t = 0.
Thus, s + t ∈ S. Since s is in S and s + t is in S, it follows that, for all r ∈ R, we have
sr = rs and (s + t)r = r(s + t). Therefore, we have

sr + tr = rs + rt = sr + rt

Thus, we have the equation sr+tr = sr+rt. Applying the cancellation law for the underlying
additive group of R to that equation, it follows that tr = rt for all r ∈ R. Therefore, t ∈ S.
That is, −s ∈ S. This completes the verification that S is a subgroup of R under the
operation of addition.
To complete the proof that S is a subring of R, we must show that if s1 and s2 are in
S, then so is s1 s2 . So, assume that s1 , s2 ∈ S. Then, for all r ∈ R, we have s1 r = rs1
and s2 r = rs2 . Consider s1 s2 , which is an element of R. Using the associative law for
multiplication in R many times, it follows that

(s1 s2 )r = s1 (s2 r) = s1 (rs2 ) = (s1 r)s2 = (rs1 )s2 = r(s1 s2 )

for all r ∈ R. Therefore, we indeed have s1 s2 ∈ S.

We have shown that S is a subring of R.
If R is a ring with unity 1, then 1r = r = r1 for all r ∈ R. Therefore 1 ∈ S. Hence S is
a ring with unity.
Now we assume that R is a division ring. Then, by definition, R is a ring with unity 1,
1 6= 0, and every nonzero element of R is a unit of R. Suppose that S is the center of R.
Then, as pointed out above, 1 ∈ S and hence S is a ring with unity. Also, 0 is the additive
identity of R and is also the additive identity of the ring S. We have 1 6= 0. We now prove
that S is a division ring. It suffices to prove that U (S) = S − {0}. For this purpose, assume
that s ∈ S and s 6= 0. Since s ∈ U (R), there exists an element t ∈ R such that st = 1 and
ts = 1. Since s ∈ S, we have sr = rs for all r ∈ R. We also have the implications

sr = rs =⇒ t(sr) = t(rs) =⇒ (ts)r = (tr)s =⇒ 1r = (tr)s =⇒ r = (tr)s

=⇒ rt = (tr)s t =⇒ rt = (tr)(st) =⇒ rt = (tr) · 1 =⇒ rt = tr .
Thus, if we assume that s ∈ S, then tr = rt for all r ∈ R. Therefore, t ∈ S. We have proved
that if s is a nonzero element of S, then there exists an element t ∈ S such that st = 1 and
ts = 1. Hence S is a division ring.
Finally, if a ∈ S, then ar = ra for all r ∈ R. Since S ⊆ R, we can say that ab = ba for
all b ∈ S. Hence S is a commutative ring. Since S has been proved to be a division ring, it
follows that S is a field. We have proved that if R is a division ring, then the center of R is
a field.

B: Show that Z × Z is not an integral domain.

SOLUTION: Let R = Z × Z, the direct product of the ring Z with itself. The additive
identity element of R is (0, 0). Suppose that a = (1, 0) and b = (0, 1). Then a and b are
elements of R, and neither is equal to the additive identity element 0R = (0, 0). However,
ab = (1, 0)(0, 1) = (0, 0) = 0R . Hence a and b are zero-divisors in the ring R. Thus, the
implication ab = 0R =⇒ a = 0R or b = 0R is not satisfied by the ring R. The above choice
of a and b is a counterexample. This implies that R is not an integral domain.

C: Let R = Z10 . We know that R is a commutative ring with unity. Show that R is not
an integral domain. Let S = {0, 2, 4, 6, 8}. Show that S is an integral domain. Show that
S is a field.

SOLUTION: The fact that R is not an integral domain follows by observing that 2 · 5 = 0
in the ring R. The elements 2 and 5 are nonzero elements of R, but their product is 0.
Now we consider S = {0, 2, 4, 6, 8}. The fact that S is a subring of R is rather obvious.
Under addition, S is just the cyclic subgroup of R generated by the element 2. Hence S is
indeed a subgroup of R. It remains to point out that S is closed under multiplication. Note
that if a, b ∈ Z are even, then so is ab. But 10 is also even. Hence ab + 10k is even for all
k ∈ Z. In particular, the remainder that ab gives when divided by 10 must be even. This
shows that the set S is indeed closed under multiplication.
The ring S is obviously commutative. Also, the ring S has a multiplicative identity, namely
the element 6. . This is verified by noticing that

6 · 0 = 0, 6 · 2 = 2, 6 · 4 = 4, 6 · 6 = 6, 6·8=8 .

Thus, we have 1S = 6. Note that 0S = 0 and hence 1S 6= 0S . We can verify that S is a

field by showing that the four nonzero elements of S are all invertible. Indeed we have:

2 · 8 = 6, 4 · 4 = 6, 6 · 6 = 6, 8·2=6 .

To verify that S is an integral domain, we make the useful observation that every field
is an integral domain. To see this, suppose that F is a field. Then F is a commutative ring
with unity 1F and 1F 6= 0F . Furthermore, every nonzero element of F is invertible. Now
suppose that a and b are nonzero elements. Then a and b are units in F . Thus, a, b ∈ U (F ).
As proved in class, it follows that ab ∈ U (F ). But 0F 6∈ U (F ) because 0F · c = 0F for all
c ∈ F and hence 0F · c 6= 1F for all c ∈ F . We have proved that if a and b are nonzero
elements of F , then ab is also a nonzero element of F . Therefore, F is indeed an integral
domain.
Since S is a field, the above useful observation implies that S is also an integral domain.

D: Determine the center of the ring M2 (R).

SOLUTION: To determine the center of the ring M2 (R), we will first find all 2×2 matrices
with real entries that commute with the matrix
 
1 0
E11 = .
0 0

We have          
a b 1 0 a 0 1 0 a b a b
= , =
c d 0 0 c 0 0 0 c d 0 0
A necessary and sufficient condition for these two products to be equal is that b = c = 0.
Thus, the set of 2 × 2 matrices that commute with E11 is
   
a 0 
 a, d ∈ R
0 d
 Now suppose that A is an element of the center of the ring M2 (R). Then AB = BA for
all B ∈ M2 (R). In particular, we have AE11 = E11 A and AE21 = E21 A, where
 
0 0
E21 = .
1 0

As shown above, the fact that AE11 = E11 A implies that A has the form
 
a 0
A =
0 d

where a, d ∈ R. Now we use the fact that AE21 = E21 A. We have

         
a 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 a 0 0 0
AE21 = = , E21 A = =
0 d 1 0 d 0 1 0 0 d a 0

We have AE21 = E21 A if and only if a = d. Thus,

 
a 0
A = = aI2 ,
0 a
 
1 0
where I2 = , a scalar multiple of the identity matrix I2 . Note that I2 is the multi-
0 1
plicative identity element in the ring M2 (R). It is obvious that matrices of the form aI2 do
indeed commute with all elements of M2 (R). Thus,

{A ∈ M2 (R) | AB = BA f or all B ∈ M2 (R) } = {aI2 | a ∈ R }

That is, the center of the ring M2 (R) is the subring {aI2 | a ∈ R }.

E: Consider the following set of matrices:

    
a b 
 a, b ∈ R
S = .
−b a 

Show that S is a subring of M2 (R) and that S ∼

= C.

SOLUTION: We first prove that the subset

    
a b 
 a, b ∈ R
S = .
−b a 
is a subring of M2 (R). We will then show that S ∼ = C.
 
0 0
The additive identity element of M2 (R) is and this is clearly in S. For every
  0 0
a b
element A = in S, its additive inverse is
−b a
 
−a −b
−A = ,
−(−b) −a
whichis indeed in S. Furthermore, suppose that A0 is also in S. Then we can write
a0 b 0

A0 = , where a0 , b0 ∈ R. Hence
−b0 a0
  0
a b0 a + a0 b + b0
   
0 a b
A+A = + = ,
−b a −b0 a0 −(b + b0 ) a + a0
which is in S. We have proved that S is a subgroup of the underlying additive group of the
ring M2 (R).
To complete the verification that S is a subring of M2 (R), it suffices to show that S is
closed under the multiplication operation in M2 (R). Let A and A0 be as in the previous
paragraph. Then
 0
a b0 aa0 − bb0 ab0 + ba0 aa0 − bb0 ab0 + ba0
     
0 a b
AA = = = ,
−b a −b0 a0 −ba0 + a(−b0 ) −bb0 + aa0 −(ab0 + ba0 ) aa0 − bb0
which is indeed in the subset S. We have proved that S is a subring of M2 (R).

Now define a map φ from C to S as follows.: For all a, b ∈ R, define

 
a b
φ(a + bi) = .
−b a
The map φ is clearly a bijection from C to S. We will prove that φ is a ring homomorphism
and therefore that the subring S of M2 (R) is isomorphic to C.
Consider z = a + bi, w = c + di ∈ C. We have
z + w = (a + c) + (b + d)i, zw = (ac − bd) + (ad + bc)i
and so
     
a+c b+d a b c d
φ(z + w) = = + = φ(z) + φ(w)
−(b + d) a + c −b a −d c
and     
a b c d ac − bd ad + bc
φ(z)φ(w) = =
−b a −d c −bc − ad −bd + ac
 
ac − bd ad + bc
= = φ(zw) ,
−(ad + bc) ac − bd
showing that φ is indeed a ring homomorphism. Since φ is also a bijection, ϕ is an isomor-
phism of the ring C to the ring S.